“When pigs fly!” This is me. “Wheeeee!!” At least when it comes to food. I’m impulsive. A fast forgetter (and a slow learner). I think I can do the impossible — eat sweets without consequences. I may be racing merrily along, hardly touching the ground, but I’m running into all sorts of trouble.
Today I’m taking my body seriously.
Right now, I’m elevating the foot that suffered a sprain last week. This morning, after my trainer provided some hands-on healing, we gave my foot a rest and spent the rest of the session on upper body strengthening.
I just had my abstinent lunch. This morning, I said the Serenity Prayer, did my Quiet Time and then spoke honestly with my sponsor. We talked about my weekend off the food and alcohol beam.
We agreed that Quiet Time will help me to notice a desire for the immediate gratification of refined foodstuff; and then to take a pause and ask myself, “What do I want that is not immediately accessible?”
The theory is that I am craving deeper spiritual nourishment which I’m covering up with intoxication. The nourishment that I’m denying myself could be a conscious connection with my husband, Higher Power, Nature, or my body.
A spiritual relationship with my body certainly includes food. For some people it might even include cake. Not me. It’s a bit the reverse of Eliza Doolitle’s line, “Gin was mother’s milk to her!” Instead, my line is, “Cake is like heroin to me.”
So, just for today, I’m slowing down, planting myself, and taking my body seriously by taking my sprained ankle seriously and my addiction seriously. I’ve got my foot up and I’m eating three weighed and measured meals, without flour or sugar and with nothing in between. I’m paying attention to my deepest desires, connecting with others, and will be attending a 12-step meeting this evening.
Feels like Recovery.
Love & Light,
Valerie
My goodness, you didn’t mention the sprained ankle on our trip to Emily’s graduation! I know I ate everything in sight and even some things that were quite well-hidden – a certain substance that one finds in up-scale Inns under a fancy pillow that you remove before getting into bed! So now I am following my plans for a return to better health. Love, mom
Hi Mom!
Thanks for our conversations this past weekend. They helped me to know you better and kept me awake to my own actions and reactions to life.
Yesterday, I was abstinent. Last night I went to my 12-step study group meeting. This morning, I did some Quiet Time and said my prayers, including a prayer that I would continue my abstinence… just for today. One day at a time. Yup!
Love & Light,
Valerie
sometimes when I get a stupid craving I drink a glass, a favorite glass i have, of water.
It becomes especially precious as I go to the mountain spring when my jugs are empty and
I thank the spring and when I am in areally smart mood I bespeak a jug or two with specila wishes or whatever strikes my fancy.
So, I have a ritual around water, so to speak . I am a firm believer that our sugar etc. fed brains
sometimes cross the impuls : hunger/ thirst.
More unasked for bits from nicola that nobody reads anyway. So, I write it as an affirmation for myself.
I want to bespeak the water more often with happy messages.
Dear friend, Nicola,
Your advice is always welcome and is probably read by many. Still, often what I write is really for myself… just as you are saying it’s an affirmation for yourself.
There’s something here in what you write about cravings that strikes a chord. Not sure what it is. I’ll sit with it.
Your blessings of the water with happy messages are inspiring. Thank you.
Love & Light,
Valerie
I like this water glass idea. I will try it. I too like to eat and have not been able to get to my yoga or any exercise for a week and feel it.
Hi Patricia, Nice to see you here! Thanks for the comment on Nicola’s water glass idea. I like it, too. I’ll try it with you. Love & Light, Valerie
and I with both of you- as soon as I wrote it I took a new gallon jar of mountain source water and bespoke it: please help guide me along a path that is thebest for me” or something of that sort.
See how you impact all of us with your openess, beloved Valerie.
How different does it feel to be married, you two?
Guess that may not belong on this page though.
blessings strokings self assurance ” I have come so far and I am proud of myself and gratefulö for all the helping angel spirits.
Hi to a miraculous mom. nicola
Hi Nicola,
I said I would try it. You reminded me. So, I just got up about “bespoke” my filtered water to, as you say, “please help guide me along a path that is the best for me” and puts me in a right-size body!
How different does it feel to be married? Very different! Deep. Meaningful. Challenging. Fun. I love it.
I’m grateful, too.
For future reference, we’ll be meeting with two shamans this Sunday for soul retrieval and clearing. I’ll let you (all) know how it goes.
Love & Light,
Valerie